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Status of VMs released on recognisance
Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hon-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday).
Question:
It is reported that the Hong Kong Government has recently released another 130 Vietnamese migrants (VMs) whose applications for repatriation have been rejected by the Vietnamese Government or who have been stranded in the territory for a number of years pending repatriation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
(c)
of the estimated number of the above two categories of VMs being stranded in the territory at present;
what measures does the Government have at present to resolve the problem of these VMs being stranded in the territory before the return of sovereignty to China; and
what status will these VMs have in the event that they still remain in the territory after the return of the territory's sovereignty to China?
Reply:
Mr President,
On 18th October 1996, 130 Vietnamese migrants (VMs) were released on recognisance. They fell into two groups, namely, those who had been rejected by the Vietnamese authorities for return under the Orderly Repatriation Programme, and those who had volunteered to go home but had been awaiting clearance for an unreasonable period of time. The continued detention of these VMs would have been unlawful. Twelve of the 130 have since returned to Vietnam following their clearance by the Vietnamese authorities. At present, there is a total of 546 VMs released on recognisance.